I was *this close* to being an official YMer today

[Apple]

Adding YMer to SSer and EEer would have been nice, but I made a terrible mistake.

I was in line at the grocery store, the 12-or-less lane, with 6 items.  There was only one person ahead of me, not much on the belt, lots of fruit and milk, but should have been a quick run.  Then I saw the check.  WTH?  Why was the cashier running a check only part way through the groceries.  Then I realized, it was a WIC voucher.  So, like any good YMer worth their clout, I checked out the groceries.  Four gallons of milk.  A bunch of bananas, a bunch of that fruit that looks like a banana (plantains?), half a pineapple, a watermelon, a bag of tomatoes, and a mango.  And that was it!  And the thought "you never see that with food stamps" popped into my head.  Cashier ran a second check and there was a small amount owed.  For which she pulled out her food stamp card.

She was very obviously pregnant, she didn't have any junk food.  I was happy that our tax dollars were at least going to good food.

But I forgot to look at her purse.   I will strive to do better next time (not that I could tell a one brand from another unless it was in big huge letters all over the purse, but a real YMer should at least look, right?)

[constanz22]

Well, if they were WIC checks, which it sounds like they were, there are only very specific items you can buy with them. No junk food. Most WIC packages now include a small dollar amount (I think it's around $15) that can be used on fresh produce at the store or some Farmers Markets.

[Deleted]

Apr 6, 2013 19:00:06 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Well, if they were WIC checks, which it sounds like they were, there are only very specific items you can buy with them. No junk food. Most WIC packages now include a small dollar amount (I think it's around $15) that can be used on fresh produce at the store or some Farmers Markets.

Basically this!

WIC does not cover any junk food at all and the fruits/vegetables can either be fresh or frozen up to a certain $$$ amount.

Regular/most popular items you will see on a WIC check:
- formula
- baby food
- cereal
- bread
- milk
- fresh or frozen fruit/vegetable

[swamp]

A real YMer would have checked for acrylic nails and followed her out to the car to see what she's driving. 

[alabamagal]

If you want to get junk food and crab legs you have to have a food stamp card.

I don't think most people get to upset about the WIC program because it is so specific about what you can get. Sometimes it can take the cashier some time to ring them up because there are more steps involved, so I don't like being behind them at the store.

[Apple]

That was the thing--I knew the check was for WIC the second I saw it, so I didn't mind being stuck behind her.  And, I am one of those people who wish food stamps were run more like WIC--I don't think food should be AS limited as WIC, but I do not think there is any reason whatsoever you should be able to buy candy, pop, a deli birthday cake (for $20+), things like that with food stamps. 

It's just that I never really notice what other people buy (unless they try to start loading their stuff on the belt before mine is out of my cart--I've learned to just push their stuff out of the way, they might not like it, but it makes room for the stuff I needed to get on there.)

Next time I'll tell DS to follow her out of the store and get a make, model, and license number (to check for the more-expensive vanity plates), and do it right.  May as well make it a family event

[Deleted]

I am one of those people who wish food stamps were run more like WIC--I don't think food should be AS limited as WIC, but I do not think there is any reason whatsoever you should be able to buy candy, pop, a deli birthday cake (for $20+), things like that with food stamps. 

The transformation has begun...

[Deleted]

Apr 6, 2013 19:48:17 GMT -5 swamp said:

A real YMer would have checked for acrylic nails and followed her out to the car to see what she's driving. 

Yep because the bag could be fake. The car is all that matters, that and the nails!

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"A bunch of bananas, a bunch of that fruit that looks like a banana (plantains?), half a pineapple, a watermelon, a bag of tomatoes, and a mango.":::...

You see a bunch of healthy fruit and vegetables.  I see pina coladas, adult tropical smoothies, and bloody marys.  Just add a freezer, a blender, and some vokda/rum.

[Apple]

Dammit!  I knew I was missing more.  I need to drink more alcohol so I can catch the more subtle stuff.  Apparently I still have much to learn

[Apple]

I am one of those people who wish food stamps were run more like WIC--I don't think food should be AS limited as WIC, but I do not think there is any reason whatsoever you should be able to buy candy, pop, a deli birthday cake (for $20+), things like that with food stamps. 

The transformation has begun...

Nah, I've always been a cold hearted republican